a) AND (d).
1. (U) This is a PRT Salah ad Din reporting cable.
2. (C) SUMMARY: Questions surround the potential
disqualification of Salah ad Din (SaD) Deputy Governor
Abdullah Hussein Jebara from running as a candidate in the
upcoming provincial elections. The Government of Iraq's
(GOI) Commission on De-Ba'athification included Abdullah in
its list of disqualified candidates. The next day, a
well-connected contact told the PRT that although Abdullah
had attempted to bribe the De-Ba'athification Commission to
exempt him from disqualification, his request was refused by
the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). That same
day, Abdullah gave the PRT Team Leader a copy of a
"no-objection" letter purporting to be from Ahmed Chalabi the
De-Ba'athification Commission; hours later, he phoned to say
IHEC was not accepting that letter, but he thought the IHEC
Chairman would accept it if it were brought to his personal
attention. He asked that the U.S. Embassy or UNAMI verify
that IHEC was acting properly. END SUMMARY.
3. (C) On December 3, the Embassy informed the PRT that the
National De-Baathification Commission had found SaD Deputy
Governor Abdullah Hussein Jebara ineligible for the
Provincial Elections subject to the provisions of the
de-ba'athification law. Abdullah had told the PRT on
November 22 that he faced disqualification on grounds of his
firqa-level membership in the dissolved Ba'ath Party, unless
the IHEC received requests for a waiver on his behalf from
Ambassador Crocker, GEN Odierno and/or the Prime Minister.
(Note: there is no such procedure for a waiver in the
election law, but a procedure for appealing such a ruling by
the De-Baathification Commission is outlined in the
de-ba'athification law. End note.)
4. (C) Several days later, Abdullah told the PRT Team Leader
that he had resolved the problem. On December 4, Abdullah
gave the Team Leader a photocopy of a letter purporting to be
from Ahmed Chalabi, Chairman of The Supreme National
Commission for De-Ba'athification, number 466 dated 2
December 2008; informal translation follows:
BEGIN TEXT:
To IHEC
Subject: Acceptance of exemption
With reference to the exemption presented by Messrs. Qahtan
Hamada Faleh and Abdullah Hussein Jebara, and in keeping with
our letters #13 of 19 Nov 2008 and #10 of 19 Nov 2008 there
is no objection to their candidacy in the provincial council
elections, please follow up and do the necessary.
With appreciation.
(signed)
For/ Dr. Ahmed Abdul-Hadi al-Chalabi
Chairman of the Supreme National Commission for
De-Ba'athification
Abdul-Aziz al-Randari
END TEXT.
(NOTE: The reference to Qahtan should read Qahtan Hamada
Saleh (vice Faleh), SaD Governor Hamad Humood Shekti's
Assistant for Technical Affairs. "Randari" is an uncertain
reading; it could be Zaydawi or any of various combinations.
END NOTE).
5. (C) Later that same day, Abdullah phoned the Team Leader
to say IHEC was refusing to accept the above letter as
sufficient to exempt him from disqualification. He said he
thought IHEC Chairman Faraj al-Haydari would accept the
letter if it were brought to his personal attention. He
asked that the U.S. Embassy or UNAMI look into the matter to
ensure that IHEC acted properly.
6. (C) Also on December 4, well-informed local contact
Ra'id Khutab (strictly protect throughout) told the PRT that,
within the past two days, Abdullah had offered a bribe of
around $200,000 U.S. to the De-Baathification Commission to
Qaround $200,000 U.S. to the De-Baathification Commission to
find him eligible to run in the provincial elections, but
that IHEC refused to let him run. According to Ra'id,
Abdullah sought to make the bribe through a connection of his
brother-in-law, Jowhar Al-Fahal, Chairman of the Provincial
Investment Commission and head of the provincial
de-baathification Committee. (NOTE: Ra'id is from the same
tribe (Juboori) and hometown (Al-Alam) as Abdullah, and is
BAGHDAD 00003893 002 OF 002
now serving as campaign adviser for a rival political party.
END NOTE).
7. (C) Ra'id told the PRT that Ahmed Abdullah, aka Abu
Mazen, the Governor's Assistant for Security Affairs, had
previously met with Ahmed Chalabi and offered approximately
$30-40,000 U.S. to prevent Abdullah from running. On October
16, Abu Mazen had told the PRT that his party would be
vigilant to ensure that de-Baathification guidelines were
strictly enforced. He specifically mentioned Deputy Governor
Abdullah as a PC member who should not be allowed to run.
8. (C) Ra'id had previously informed the PRT that Abdullah
had attempted to overcome the de-Ba'athification requirements
by submitting a fraudulent letter of exemption purportedly
signed by Ahmed Chalabi, Chairman of the National
Reconciliation Commission, presumably the same one mentioned
in para 4. Ra'id gave the PRT copies of two separate letters
that he claimed showed evidence of this fraud. The first
letter is dated 6/14/2005 and was sent from the Ministry of
State for Governorates Affairs to the Ministry of the
Interior. The letter states that Abdullah is subject to the
provisions of the de-Baathification law--Ra'id claims the
first letter is genuine. The second letter, purportedly from
Chalabi, is dated 5/1/2008 and states that Abdullah is
excluded from the law's requirements and is qualified to
serve in SaD Provincial government office. According to
Ra'id, this letter is fraudulent and was not issued by
Chalabi. He encouraged the Embassy to verify the
authenticity of the letter directly with Chalabi.
-------
COMMENT
-------
9. (C) PRT Team Leader believes that disqualifying someone
who currently holds elective office on grounds of firqa-level
membership in the former Ba'ath Party is potentially
destabilizing, especially in SaD, which is home to so many
former Ba'athists. It undercuts the political message that
the democratic process is the way for all Iraqis to address
their needs and safeguard their interests.
10. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: Deputy Governor Abdullah Jebara
held a relatively high-level (Firqa) position in the Ba'ath
Party and served as a deputy division commander during the
2003 invasion, with rank of Brigadier General. His older
brother was the top sheikh in Salah ad Din of the Juboori
tribe, until assassinated last year. Abdullah has played
arguably the most critical role in urging people in this
overwhelmingly Sunni Arab province to work with the Americans
instead of taking up arms. He has been working with CF since
2003, starting out as an interpreter and quickly moving into
governance. He is generally seen as the most powerful person
in the province today. He has excellent relations with CF
and Embassy reps going back at least to the first PRT Team
Leader in SaD. As we have reported, he is also the subject
of numerous complaints about corruption, intimidation, even
brutality. Abdullah is surrounded by family members and
close associates who hold powerful and sensitive positions in
the provincial government; his strength has made him a prime
target in the escalation of political in-fighting prior to
provincial elections. END COMMENT.
11. (C) EMBASSY COMMENT: IHEC informed us that they had
concerns about possible violence in the area, following news
of any official denial. MNF-I has been made aware of the
situation and will monitor.
12. (C) EMBASSY COMMENT (CONT.): Iraqi Chief Justice Medhat
has agreed to hear Jebara's appeal on December 14, the first
day that the courts come out of recess. The Chief Justice
Qday that the courts come out of recess. The Chief Justice
advises that he will refer the appeal to the Court of
Cassation, the body that is empowered to over-rule
de'Ba'athification decisions, with instructions to make an
immediate decision. The IHEC has further advised the Embassy
that if Jebara's appeal is successful on December 14, the
final day before ballots go to the printers, his name may be
included on the ballot.
CROCKER

Raw content

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003893
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2013
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, IZ
SUBJECT: PRT SALAH AD DIN: PLOT THICKENS IN DEPUTY
GOVERNOR'S ELECTION DISQUALIFICATION
Classified By: PRT SALAH AD DIN TEAM LEADER RICK BELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (
a) AND (d).
1. (U) This is a PRT Salah ad Din reporting cable.
2. (C) SUMMARY: Questions surround the potential
disqualification of Salah ad Din (SaD) Deputy Governor
Abdullah Hussein Jebara from running as a candidate in the
upcoming provincial elections. The Government of Iraq's
(GOI) Commission on De-Ba'athification included Abdullah in
its list of disqualified candidates. The next day, a
well-connected contact told the PRT that although Abdullah
had attempted to bribe the De-Ba'athification Commission to
exempt him from disqualification, his request was refused by
the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). That same
day, Abdullah gave the PRT Team Leader a copy of a
"no-objection" letter purporting to be from Ahmed Chalabi the
De-Ba'athification Commission; hours later, he phoned to say
IHEC was not accepting that letter, but he thought the IHEC
Chairman would accept it if it were brought to his personal
attention. He asked that the U.S. Embassy or UNAMI verify
that IHEC was acting properly. END SUMMARY.
3. (C) On December 3, the Embassy informed the PRT that the
National De-Baathification Commission had found SaD Deputy
Governor Abdullah Hussein Jebara ineligible for the
Provincial Elections subject to the provisions of the
de-ba'athification law. Abdullah had told the PRT on
November 22 that he faced disqualification on grounds of his
firqa-level membership in the dissolved Ba'ath Party, unless
the IHEC received requests for a waiver on his behalf from
Ambassador Crocker, GEN Odierno and/or the Prime Minister.
(Note: there is no such procedure for a waiver in the
election law, but a procedure for appealing such a ruling by
the De-Baathification Commission is outlined in the
de-ba'athification law. End note.)
4. (C) Several days later, Abdullah told the PRT Team Leader
that he had resolved the problem. On December 4, Abdullah
gave the Team Leader a photocopy of a letter purporting to be
from Ahmed Chalabi, Chairman of The Supreme National
Commission for De-Ba'athification, number 466 dated 2
December 2008; informal translation follows:
BEGIN TEXT:
To IHEC
Subject: Acceptance of exemption
With reference to the exemption presented by Messrs. Qahtan
Hamada Faleh and Abdullah Hussein Jebara, and in keeping with
our letters #13 of 19 Nov 2008 and #10 of 19 Nov 2008 there
is no objection to their candidacy in the provincial council
elections, please follow up and do the necessary.
With appreciation.
(signed)
For/ Dr. Ahmed Abdul-Hadi al-Chalabi
Chairman of the Supreme National Commission for
De-Ba'athification
Abdul-Aziz al-Randari
END TEXT.
(NOTE: The reference to Qahtan should read Qahtan Hamada
Saleh (vice Faleh), SaD Governor Hamad Humood Shekti's
Assistant for Technical Affairs. "Randari" is an uncertain
reading; it could be Zaydawi or any of various combinations.
END NOTE).
5. (C) Later that same day, Abdullah phoned the Team Leader
to say IHEC was refusing to accept the above letter as
sufficient to exempt him from disqualification. He said he
thought IHEC Chairman Faraj al-Haydari would accept the
letter if it were brought to his personal attention. He
asked that the U.S. Embassy or UNAMI look into the matter to
ensure that IHEC acted properly.
6. (C) Also on December 4, well-informed local contact
Ra'id Khutab (strictly protect throughout) told the PRT that,
within the past two days, Abdullah had offered a bribe of
around $200,000 U.S. to the De-Baathification Commission to
Qaround $200,000 U.S. to the De-Baathification Commission to
find him eligible to run in the provincial elections, but
that IHEC refused to let him run. According to Ra'id,
Abdullah sought to make the bribe through a connection of his
brother-in-law, Jowhar Al-Fahal, Chairman of the Provincial
Investment Commission and head of the provincial
de-baathification Committee. (NOTE: Ra'id is from the same
tribe (Juboori) and hometown (Al-Alam) as Abdullah, and is
BAGHDAD 00003893 002 OF 002
now serving as campaign adviser for a rival political party.
END NOTE).
7. (C) Ra'id told the PRT that Ahmed Abdullah, aka Abu
Mazen, the Governor's Assistant for Security Affairs, had
previously met with Ahmed Chalabi and offered approximately
$30-40,000 U.S. to prevent Abdullah from running. On October
16, Abu Mazen had told the PRT that his party would be
vigilant to ensure that de-Baathification guidelines were
strictly enforced. He specifically mentioned Deputy Governor
Abdullah as a PC member who should not be allowed to run.
8. (C) Ra'id had previously informed the PRT that Abdullah
had attempted to overcome the de-Ba'athification requirements
by submitting a fraudulent letter of exemption purportedly
signed by Ahmed Chalabi, Chairman of the National
Reconciliation Commission, presumably the same one mentioned
in para 4. Ra'id gave the PRT copies of two separate letters
that he claimed showed evidence of this fraud. The first
letter is dated 6/14/2005 and was sent from the Ministry of
State for Governorates Affairs to the Ministry of the
Interior. The letter states that Abdullah is subject to the
provisions of the de-Baathification law--Ra'id claims the
first letter is genuine. The second letter, purportedly from
Chalabi, is dated 5/1/2008 and states that Abdullah is
excluded from the law's requirements and is qualified to
serve in SaD Provincial government office. According to
Ra'id, this letter is fraudulent and was not issued by
Chalabi. He encouraged the Embassy to verify the
authenticity of the letter directly with Chalabi.
-------
COMMENT
-------
9. (C) PRT Team Leader believes that disqualifying someone
who currently holds elective office on grounds of firqa-level
membership in the former Ba'ath Party is potentially
destabilizing, especially in SaD, which is home to so many
former Ba'athists. It undercuts the political message that
the democratic process is the way for all Iraqis to address
their needs and safeguard their interests.
10. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: Deputy Governor Abdullah Jebara
held a relatively high-level (Firqa) position in the Ba'ath
Party and served as a deputy division commander during the
2003 invasion, with rank of Brigadier General. His older
brother was the top sheikh in Salah ad Din of the Juboori
tribe, until assassinated last year. Abdullah has played
arguably the most critical role in urging people in this
overwhelmingly Sunni Arab province to work with the Americans
instead of taking up arms. He has been working with CF since
2003, starting out as an interpreter and quickly moving into
governance. He is generally seen as the most powerful person
in the province today. He has excellent relations with CF
and Embassy reps going back at least to the first PRT Team
Leader in SaD. As we have reported, he is also the subject
of numerous complaints about corruption, intimidation, even
brutality. Abdullah is surrounded by family members and
close associates who hold powerful and sensitive positions in
the provincial government; his strength has made him a prime
target in the escalation of political in-fighting prior to
provincial elections. END COMMENT.
11. (C) EMBASSY COMMENT: IHEC informed us that they had
concerns about possible violence in the area, following news
of any official denial. MNF-I has been made aware of the
situation and will monitor.
12. (C) EMBASSY COMMENT (CONT.): Iraqi Chief Justice Medhat
has agreed to hear Jebara's appeal on December 14, the first
day that the courts come out of recess. The Chief Justice
Qday that the courts come out of recess. The Chief Justice
advises that he will refer the appeal to the Court of
Cassation, the body that is empowered to over-rule
de'Ba'athification decisions, with instructions to make an
immediate decision. The IHEC has further advised the Embassy
that if Jebara's appeal is successful on December 14, the
final day before ballots go to the printers, his name may be
included on the ballot.
CROCKER